Red Rock West (1993)

Upon arriving to a small town, a drifter is mistaken for a hitman, but when the real hitman arrives, complications ensue.

Director:

John Dahl

Writers:

John Dahl, Rick Dahl

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Dennis Hopper, Lara Flynn Boyle

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	Michael
Craig Reay	...	Jim
Vance Johnson	...	Mr. Johnson
Robert Apel	...	Howard
Bobby Joe McFadden	...	Old Man
J.T. Walsh	...	Wayne
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Suzanne
Dale Gibson	...	Kurt
Ted Parks	...	Cashier
Babs Bram	...	Receptionist
Robert Guajardo	...	Doctor
Sarah Sullivan	...	Nurse
Timothy Carhart	...	Deputy Greytack
Dan Shor	...	Deputy Bowman
Dennis Hopper	...	Lyle

Storyline

When a promised job for Texan Michael fails to materialise in Wyoming, Mike is mistaken by Wayne to be the hitman he hired to kill his unfaithful wife, Suzanne. Mike takes full advantage of the situation, collects the money and runs. During his getaway, things go wrong, and soon get worse when he runs into the real hitman, Lyle.

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | hitman | texan | mistaken identity | small town | 

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Taglines:

Where nothing is as it seems.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and violence, and for sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 1993 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Conspiració a Red Rock West

Filming Locations:

Texas Canyon, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,502,551

Company Credits

Production Co:

Propaganda Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the movie was previewed for audiences, none of the producers showed up.

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Goofs

When Lyle shoots the window out of the car, the next shot shows the hammer of the automatic pistol down. Firing the weapon would have caused it to be cocked. Additionally, no cartridge shell was ejected; in reality, one would have hit the windshield on the inside of the car.

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Quotes

Lyle: [Hitman Lyle from Dallas finds Michael laying down in the middle of the road] What the fuck are you doing?
Michael Williams: My car broke down.
Lyle: Where? I don't see a car.
Michael Williams: It's just over that ridge.
Lyle: 'Just over that ridge', huh? Well you're one lucky son of a bitch, aren't you? If I hadn't had my brakes just done, I'd be picking your brains out of my radiator. Fuck.
Michael Williams: Look, I hate to ask you this, but do you think you could give me a ride?
Lyle: I don't know. You're not dangerous, are you?

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Crazy Credits

Special Thanks: Mom & Dad

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Connections

Referenced in Baja (1995)

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Soundtracks

FOLSOM PRISON BLUES
Written by Johnny Cash (as John R. Cash)
Performed by Johnny Cash
Courtesy of Mercury Records Nashville

User Reviews

Cage at his best, and a totally fun and funny modern western filled with archetypes

Red Rock West (1993)

Nicolas Cage gets embroiled in a deadly crime without at first knowing it, and the dominos lead to increasing peril, adventure and misadventure in the wild forlorn American West of the 1990s. Red Rock West is often brutal and sometimes hilarious, and Cage pulls off the mixture with his usual sardonic wit and wary ease.

Is the plot over the top? Yes. Is Dennis Hopper perfect as a crazed, almost likable killer? Yes. Does Cage stand a chance? Well, you have to watch and see. It never lets up, and it took me by surprise the first time I saw it. On second viewing yesterday, I was surprised at how well it held up, how well constructed it was, and how macabre and funny it was at the same time.

Director Ron Dahl (who also helped write) is known more for his TV work, but with Rounders and this film he shows a deft hand with sensational plots. It's saved by its humor by the way, and by the caricatures. The bar is sleazy, the cops questionable. And don't miss a really inspired cameo by Dwight Yoakam as a truck driver.